THERE IS NO SUCH RADIO AS A SYNTOR XX
To paraphrase Paul Bennett N7OCS, "The Syntor X, Syntor X9000 and
Syntor X9000E radios use a 'drop shadowed' X graphic. This drop
shadow is cosmetic only and there is no such thing as a Syntor XX,
Syntor XX 9000 or Syntor XX 9000E radio. On the
other hand, there are Syntor X2 and Syntor X3 trunking radios, so
the use of the "XX" can be confusing and should always be avoided."
Also there is a space before the "X" and no dash or hyphen between the X and the
9000. In other words, "Syntor X9000" is correct, "Syntor X-9000" is incorrect, as
is "Syntor-X9000" and "Syntor-X-9000".
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The Syntor line of mobile radios are synthesized 32 channel radios for
VHF and UHF. The Syntors were made in the 1980s and were an outgrowth of
the crystal controlled Micor series. The RF frequency information was held
in a one-time programmable PROM chip, and the PL tone / DPL code
information in a second chip. Paul Benett's web site listed below provides
alternatives to the almost-impossible-to-find PROM chips and the methods
to program them. The Mike Blenderman K7IC web site, also listed below, is
the fount of knowledge on the entire
Syntor / Syntor X / Syntor X9000 series.
The Syntor X radios followed the Syntors and were completely different
inside (they really should have had a different product name). They offer
more options including low band and 32 channels (or more). The programming
is held in a plug-in memory module that holds one of several different
sized memory chips. The programming information holds separate receive
and transmit frequencies, PL or DPL (tone or digital encode/decode),
a timeout timer (programmable in 15 second increments to over 7 minutes)
and a scan list (up to 32 channels) with two priority channels. There
is a mod that provides 64 channels, but it's not as desirable as you
first would think (go read Mike Blenderman's page on it to find out why).
Two sources of Syntor or Syntor X memory module programming are: (offsite links)
Andy Brinkley of Brinkley
Electronics in Winston-Salem, North Carolina (click on "Radio
Programming" then Motorola)
Bruce Lane of Blue Feather
Technologies in Kent, Washington (scroll down to "RF Services")
You can contact either of these people via the contact information on
their web sites.
If anyone else would like to be added to this list just send an email
to Mike Morris WA6ILQ at (his-callsign) //at// repeater-builder //dot// com.
Yes, the email address is disguised in an attempt to avoid spambot email address sniffers.
The Syntor X9000 followed the Syntor X and is the same radio
from an RF standpoint, but the internal controller board was upgraded to
expand the number of memory channels up to 255. The control cable connector
on the X9000 is the same as the X, but the accessories are not compatible.
The X9000 uses Systems 9000 accessories and options that communicate with
the radio via a 9600 baud serial bus. The control head(s) are smart heads
with their own microprocessor inside. Unlike the Syntor X the X9000 is
programmed with RSS (and a slow PC), a RIB and special adapter cable that
goes in series with the normal radio cable. The the special cable is not
an absolute requirement; there are several ways to make your own connection
from a radio to a RIB. In other words, the X9000 is a more desirable
mobile radio than a Syntor X since you don't need the
almost-impossible-to-find suitcase programmer for the plain Syntor or the
Syntor X... you just connect a slow PC or a laptop to the X9000 and program
it. The RSS package for the X9000 contains two programs, one to program the
radio, and one to program the head (you program the radio with the information
(frequency, tone, etc) for each mode, you program the head with the text to
display for each mode).
One quirk about the 256 channel X9000 radios: the memory chip in the head
only has room for about 209 text labels, when you go to any channel above
the limit the display changes and displays the word "MODE" plus the
channel number. The firmware allocates a fixed number of display memory
bytes for each label - in other words using fewer characters in modes 1-209
does not move the switchover threshold. I've found that 209 text labels
is sufficient for my needs.
The Syntor X9000E models are actually conventional Syntor X9000 radios
with an internal trunking controller board added. The "E" model offers
nothing to the non-trunking user and are not any more valuable than a
plain X9000. These radios can be easily converted into conventional Syntor
X9000 radios (which is not true of trunking Syntor X models).
Note that there are a wide range of Syntor line accessories and that the
cable and head are not compatible between the various Syntor, Syntor X
Syntor X9000 and Syntor X9000E models. The only accessories that
are the same across all radio lines are the speaker, microphone and antenna.
If you do not have experience with the Syntor series and decide to buy any
Syntor you really need to purchase a complete installation kit - the radio,
cable and the head. Mike Blenderman's and Paul Bennett's web sites (linked
below) will help sort out the confusion, but it's best NOT to try and mix
and match unless you have the full manual that covers your radio(s) and
accessories.
Mike Blenderman K7IC has his own very extensive web site on the Syntor,
the Syntor X, the Syntor X9000, the Syntor X9000E and the trunking
models of the Syntor X and X9000 listed below. There is no point in duplicating
his effort here at Repeater-Builder. This web page is only going to cover topics
that are not covered at Mike's site. I really suggest that you go to Mike's site
first (and bookmark it).
The Syntor, Syntor X and Syntor x9000 can use 4, 8 or 16 ohm speakers. All use
an internal audio output transformer and you don't need to do anything special
to do measure quieting, etc. (as opposed to the later Mitreks, Maxtracs, etc that
used transformerless / complimentary or differential audio outputs
where you have to use a 1:1 8 ohm transformer in line since cannot connect
either side of the radios speaker output to ground).
After
Skip Hansen WB6YMH and Lee Dusbabek K7KAJ picked up a fleet of radios that
had been sold without the memory modules they designed, built and now sell a
replacement memory module for the Syntor X called the Xcat. It plugs
into the Syntor X in place of the original Motorola module and provides
complete funtionality plus it is programmable by a PC using a Windows-based
program. A Syntor X plus the Xcat is a much more capable base station
or remote base radio than an X9000 - and much cheaper!
However, if your interest is in a standalone mobile radio then the X9000 is
still the way to go as the X9000 came in 32, 64, 128 and 255 modes and offers
an 11-character alphanumeric display control head. In contrast, the Xcat
provides 32 modes and you can't run some accessories (like a PA-siren)
from the Syntor X main control head (when the Syntor X was a current
product Moto provided an accessory control box that mounted on top of the
radios control head).
Click here for a photo of the Xcat board
Click here for a photo of the installed Xcat board.
The brown connector at the top of the first photo plugs into the Syntor X
in place of the original Motorola module (so if you end up with an eBay
Syntor X that was decomissioned by pulling the module you can add
the Xcat and turn your doorstop back into a real radio).
Again referring to the first photo, the 10-pin header that is visible in the
lower left connects to a DB9 connector that plugs into your PCs serial port
(COM port) for programming the Xcat. The 20-pin header at the lower right is
for a connection to a repeater controller when used in
a remote base application (it's the multicolor ribbon cable in the "installed"
photo). The Xcat allows remote selection of RF frequency, PL encode and decode
tones, and power level via the Doug Hall "RBI" protocol that is supported by
most controllers (and you don't need the Doug Hall box!). The Icom CI-V
protocol or the serial protocol can be used by controllers that don't support
the Doug Hall protocol.
The Xcat module, when plugged in place of the original Moto memory module,
provides:
- Computer control via serial port and a professionally written open
source Windows application.
- Interface to repeater controllers using either the "Doug Hall" or Icom
CI-V protocols. Yes, a Syntor X equipped with an Xcat makes an exact
and excellent replacement for a Kenwood mobile as a remote base (but it
has a real receiver with some decent intermod reistance). The Xcat
has been used successfully with RLC3, Pacific Research RI-300s and an
Scom - and without the Doug Hall RBI box in the middle.
- If you interface it to a repeater controller you can use a Syntor-X as a
fully frequency and PL tone agile remote base. And you can have multiple Xcats
sharing the same controller port (i.e. separate low band, high band and UHF
Xcat/Syntor-X remote bases on one repeater controller port).
- The Xcat was designed to make a Syntor X into a high end remote base radio,
with the Xcat cabled to the site controller. However, if installed into a mobile
(i.e. in simple standalone operation) you end up with a 32 mode code plug that
can be programmed by your home PC without any superfluous hardware (i.e. no
RIB, RSS or old 386 computer required).
From the point of view of the Syntor the Xcat is an exact replacement for the
orignal Motorola-built Syntor X memory module and your radio won't know
the difference. The Windows application uploads the information to the Xcat
and then the computer is disconnected until the information needs to be
changed.
More information is available at the Xcat yahoogroup at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/xcat.
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Syntor X9000 Detailed Information:
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The the Syntor, the Syntor X, the Syntor X9000,
and the trunking Syntor X and X9000E page by Mike Blenderman K7IC (offsite link).
If you have any flavor of Syntor you will want to bookmark this page !
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The original Syntor X9000
Sales Brochure 4.3 MB PDF Donated by A. Nony Mous
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Syntor X9000
Conventional Radio System Operator's Manual 6880100W95-C
971 kB PDF Donated by A. Nony Mous
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Syntor X9000
Trunked and Conventional Operator's Manual 6880100W90-O 1.14 MB
PDF Donated by A. Nony Mous |
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Syntor X9000E
Privacy Plus Radio System Operator's Manual 6880102W26-O 1.02 MB
PDF Donated by A. Nony Mous
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Syntor X9000
High Band, UHF and 800 MHz Instruction Manual Supplement 6880100W94-O dated
17-Feb-1986 9.8 MB PDF Donated by Eric Lemmon WB6FLY
This supplement covers early Syntor X9000 radios, before the applicable manuals were published.
It is intended to be used with the later Syntor X manuals, as follows:
• VHF Syntor X radios, covered in manual 6881060E05
• UHF Syntor X radios, covered in manual 6880100W45
Later Syntor X9000 radios are covered in the following manuals:
• Low-Band Syntor X9000 radios: 6880101W95
• High-Band Syntor X9000 radios: 6880102W05
• UHF Syntor X9000 radios: 6880102W04
A later
version of the early X9000 supplement is here. 6880100W94-O dated 09-Sep-1986
7.2 MB PDF
It includes 800 Mhz units and a few more options.
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Syntor
X9000 High Band Service Manual 6880102W05-O 17.8 MB PDF
Donated by Eric Lemmon WB6FLY
This radio comes in two ranges, 136-154.4 and 150-174 MHz.
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Syntor X9000
Low Band Radio System 100 watts 31-50 MHz Service Manual 6880101W95-D 15.6
MB PDF Donated by Eric Lemmon WB6FLY
This radio came in ONE range! Despite it saying "31-50 MHz" the radio will do 28-54 MHz
just fine - as long as you realize that the average low band mobile antenna only does a
1 MHz portion of that band. The only way to get around the 1 MHz limitation is
to either use two mobile antennas (which gives two 1 MHz "windows") or to use a screwdriver
antenna and a self-contained auto-tuner (like an SGC). The details on the two-antenna setup
is in the mobile section of the Antenna Systems page at this web site.
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Syntor X9000 UHF Manual
6880102W04-O 6.6 MB PDF Scanned by Charles Blythe, KD5TKR
This radio came in four ranges: (1) 406-420, (2) 450-470, (3) 470-488, (4) 482-500, (5) 494-512 MHz.
Ranges 3, 4, and 5 are pretty useless to hams (except for parts to convert a Syntor X
to a Syntor X9000).
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Syntor X9000
/ System 9000 Siren-PA 6880101W10-A 3.2 MB PDF Donated by Eric Lemmon WB6FLY
This manual covers the W269AF, W269AH, W589AH and W589AK series units, and both the HLN1184
and HLN1185 kits.
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Syntor X9000
/ System 9000 HKN4241A control cable schematic 182 KB PDF Donated by
Eric Lemmon WB6FLY
This schematic shows the horn and headlights control, normal and SecureNet cabling, and more.
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Syntor X9000 / System 9000
Tee-Connector/Cable 297 KB PDF Donated by Eric Lemmon WB6FLY
This is just a scanned schematic of a T-Cable that connects an X9000 radio to a siren box.
We don't have the part number of the connector itself, or of the siren box.
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Syntor X Detailed Information:
Syntor, Syntor X and MCX100 Amateur Band Programming
Information:
http://www.sites.onlinemac.com/pbennett/5857/software.htm
By Paul Bennett N7OCS (offsite link)
Other Syntor and Syntor X Information:
MCX100 and Syntor PROM Information:
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Syntor and MCX
PROM replacement By Ted Maczulat VE7TFM 188 kB PDF |
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MCX100 UHF
manual Part number 6881045E30-O 8.5 MB PDF donated by Eric Lemmon WB6FLY |
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MCX100 VHF DVP Manual
Part number 6881063E25-O 15.4 MB PDF donated by Eric Lemmon WB6FLY
This manual covers the D23EXA, T23EXA (both are 10 watts), D43EXA or T43EXA (both are 30
watts) series of radios.
The same manual in six sections:
Part 1,
1.2 MB
Part 2,
5.8 MB
Part 3,
3.7 MB
Part 4,
10.1 MB
Part 5,
5.03 MB
Part 6,
8.77 MB
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Complete TPN1136A power supply
schematic and parts list 370 KB PDF extracted from the MCX100 manual above
Also has info on the TLN5274B regulator board, the TRN6282A chassis and the TKN6948A, TKN6949A,
TKN8199A cable kits.
Moto changed the board mid-production but didn't change the board number.
Click here for the early TPN1136A power supply
schematic only (40 KB PDF)
Click here for the later TPN1136A power supply
schematic only (41 KB PDF)
This power supply was used on the low power base station versions of the MCX100, the Maxar
and the Maxar-80. |
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TPN1154A power supply schematic
and parts list 530 KB PDF
Also has info on the TLN5274B, TRN6561A, TKN6948A, TKN6949A, TKN8199A kits.
This power supply was used on the high power base station versions of the MCX100, the Maxar
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PROM to EPROM Adapter Boards for the Syntor and MCX100 from Andy Brinkley of
Brinkley Electronics in Winston-Salem,
North Carolina (offsite link)
These boards let you use more modern chips in place of the unobtainable old ones that Moto used.
A board specifically
for the Syntor
A board specifically
for the MCX100 (offsite links)
For the Syntor-X use the Xcat mentioned above.
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